Hepatic effects of halothane and isoflurane anaesthesia in rats and their relation to enzyme induction

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out on 42 rats, classified into six equal groups; three of them served as controls and the others were treated with rifampicin as an enzyme inducer. Control and pretreated rats were either not exposed to inhalational anesthetics or exposed to halothane or isoflurane anesthesia. Liver functions were assessed by measuring gamma glutamyl transferase, aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT] and serum bilirubin. The present study showed that repeated halothane anesthesia resulted in impairment of liver function. This impairment was exaggerated when halothane was administered to rifampicin pretreated rats. No evidence of hepatic injury occurred in rats exposed to isoflurane anesthesia